Baggage Allowances Help? [MSC rules etc.]

[serfty]

Aside from those itinerarys that fall under the USA DOT; it's per Journey and based on the operating carrier (metal).

"SYD (QF) x/SIN (BA) LHR (QF) SYD" has two journeys - the MSC to LHR is BA, there is no MSC on the return as QF is the sole carrier.

"SYD (QF) x/SIN (BA) LHR (MH) x/BKK (BA) SYD" has two journeys - the MSC to LHR is BA, the MSC on the return is MH.

For those Journeys that fall under the USA DOT it's for the entire booking and allowance is based on the Marketing carrier (Flight number). The allowance first used is carried through to be the allowance for the entire trip.

e.g. SYD (AA) x/LAX (BA) LHR (MH) x/BKK (BA) SYD uses the allowance for AA SYD-LAX for all segments. Note that AA does not operate their own metal SYD/LAX; they codeshare with Qantas but as they are the marking carrier, their allowance applies. If AA don't publish an allowance for that segment, QF's applies.

 

[ozmille]

Aside from those itinerarys that fall under the USA DOT; it's per Journey and based on the operating carrier (metal).

"SYD (QF) x/SIN (BA) LHR (QF) SYD" has two journeys - the MSC to LHR is BA, there is no MSC on the return as QF is the sole carrier.

"SYD (QF) x/SIN (BA) LHR (MH) x/BKK (BA) SYD" has two journeys - the MSC to LHR is BA, the MSC on the return is MH.

Which can make it pretty hard luggage wise, on my outbound in J I have BA's 3 piece at 23kg system and on the way back QF's 32KG :shock:

 

[Drav]

Thanks Serfty.

The route in question would be SYD-CMB.

SYD-SIN (QF) SIN-CMB (SQ)

then

CMB-SIN (SQ) SIN-SYD (QF)

So from what you're saying, basically in this example QF's rules would apply because essentially largest part of the journey is on QF?

One last thing if I may, would the baggage just be interlined as from what I can see QF and SQ dont codeshare - or would I need to sort that out myself?

Drav

 

[serfty]

Actually you have a mix:

• QF's to Sri Lanka &
• SQ's from Sri Lanka

IATA code - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

All travel is in TC3 (Asia & Oceania).

You outbound travel is from the SWP sub-area transferring in the SEA sub-area onward to the SAS sub-area.

Since the first sub area crossing is on QF, their allowance applies for that journey.

On the return SQ is operating the first sub-area crossing (SAS to SEA, before SWP) so their allowance applies.

QF and SQ do have an interline agreements and luggage will be transferred at SIN since this is all the one booking.

 

[Drav]

Ahhh that map helped me out a fair bit. Now i understand it

Thanks so much for your info Sefty!

Drav

 

[LuisT]

I've got a quick question on it - I just dropped my wife off for a trip to Munich in CBR (flying CBR-MEL-LHR-MUC). The trip was ticked on qf with a BA leg (QF flight number) to Munich.

At checkin they told us that because the last flight was operated by BA, she would have to pay for the extra luggage (she had 28kg and was allowed 23kg) at a price of $74/kg! Now eventually they let her on without paying the extra, but I thought that since QF was MSC that she should get the allowance that QF gives her.

Have I missed something on this, or were they wrong?

Thanks

 

[ozbeachbabe]

One last thing if I may, would the baggage just be interlined as from what I can see QF and SQ dont codeshare - or would I need to sort that out myself?
Drav

If the QF & SQ flights are all in the same booking then QF will be able to check your bags through to the final destination with SQ.

I'm fairly certain QF have an IATCI agreement with SQ so besides your bags being checked through, it should check you in for the SQ flight and issue your SQ boarding pass.

 

[serfty]

Re: Baggage allowances for interlining to become more predictable

I've got a quick question on it - I just dropped my wife off for a trip to Munich in CBR (flying CBR-MEL-LHR-MUC). The trip was ticked on qf with a BA leg (QF flight number) to Munich.

At checkin they told us that because the last flight was operated by BA, she would have to pay for the extra luggage (she had 28kg and was allowed 23kg) at a price of $74/kg! Now eventually they let her on without paying the extra, but I thought that since QF was MSC that she should get the allowance that QF gives her.

Have I missed something on this, or were they wrong?

Thanks

[I missed this, but will reply for reference]

They were wrong - the MSC was the operating carrier for MEL-LHR (presumably QF9) and Qantas' allowance applied.

 

[serfty]

Looks like there has been some confusion with this especially in relation to the USA DOT exception.

APTCO released a clarification this year for their clients (Airlines) in relation to that:

APTCO - Five Facts You Need to Know about Baggage

4. What should you do?

Airlines should make sure their baggage policies are included in ATPCO’s Baggage Allowance and Charges database. You should also confirm that any pricing systems with which you work are using data from this system in conjunction with IATA Resolution 302 and the US DOT disclosure requirements.​

All pricing systems, travel agencies (online and offline), and other travel resellers should ensure they can disclose passengers’ applicable baggage allowance and charges at the time of fare quote and on e-ticket confirmations, following all processes defined by IATA Resolution 302, the DOT tariff filing requirements, and the new DOT disclosure regulations.​

ATPCO’s baggage data can help you comply with these regulations.​

Taking into consideration the US DOT baggage and tariff regulations, as well as IATA Resolution 302, airlines and pricing and departure control systems should make sure:​

• The first marketing carrier on a flight provides the passenger with baggage allowance and charges information for the entire journey
• The MSC rules are applied to the journey, and in order to comply with tariff filing requirements, the MSC must be the marketing carrier to/from the United States
• Baggage allowance and charges for the outbound direction apply for the entire journey ...

 

[Bebee]

Excess baggage charges flying BA and QF from Manchester to Perth

Hi all!

I was wondering what would be the excess baggage charges for a silver QFF flying Y from Manchester by BA (on QF codeshare) and then QF from Heathrow to Perth? ba.com states that it's USD$60 at the airport but then mentions that additional charges may apply when flying another airline. qantas.com mentions the same but would not allow for pre-purchase of excess baggage. Does anyone have any first-hand experience? Would appreciate any advice as the call centre wasn't helpful at all

 

[Isochronous]

Re: Excess baggage charges flying BA and QF from Manchester to Perth

Do Silver privileges apply on the QF flight number?

 

[serfty]

Is this trip all on the one booking?

 

[Bebee]

I thought status privileges only apply to QF operated flights?

The trip is all on the one booking.

 

[serfty]

A belated welcome to AFF.

The QF flight from LHR-SIN represents the MSC.

When was your reservation ticketed? Before/after May 2nd this year?

Qantas Baggage | Checked Baggage Allowance

As for Excess baggage: Qantas Baggage | Pre Paid Additional Baggage

 

[Bebee]

Thanks!

It was ticketed after 2nd May.

 

[Danger]

Cathay agents appeared to not have heard of the MSC concept when I checked in at Kowloon MTR this week. I had two pieces, one at 23-odd and one at 17-odd. My journey was HKG-xSIN-Australia, the first leg on CX Y and the latter on QF J.

There was much discusion in a language foreign to me before the very nice agent I was checking in with said I was 17kgs over my weight limit and moved towards charging me extra. I politely said that I was connecting to a QF flight in J, that QF J allows two pieces at 32kgs and that QF was the most significant carrier, meaning their baggage rules apply. There was more discussion between my agent and her two colleagues before my agent said something like 'you're okay this time, we won't get you to pay'. Although they were speaking a different langauge it was reasonably clear to me that none of the agents had any idea of the MSC concept.

I should clarify that my QF J was in U (an upgraded Y ticket). Nonetheless, I don't see that that should make a difference but, if it it did, QF was still the most significant carrier as it was the first airline that traversed IATA sub-tariff regions.

 

[serfty]

When ticketed there is an automated process that works out MSC etc and applies the baggage allowance to the appropriate segments.

The problems seem to be that 1) Many airlines (including Qantas) have not filed elite variations to standard allowances (the can) and 2) when Upgraded, the baggage allowance appears not to be recalculated.

because of these automated processes, the agents believe they can get away with not knowing the intricacies of IATA 302 - it come up on the ticket, so they adopt a "Computer Says No" mentality.

 

[Flashback]

The way I read MSC, as PER, SIN and HKG are in zone 3 and BKK is Zone 3, with CDG Zone 2 (which the BKK-CDG is operated by TG F) then TG should be the MSC in this case as that's the first instance on the return journey of crossing the IATA areas.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

When ticketed there is an automated process that works out MSC etc and applies the baggage allowance to the appropriate segments.

The problems seem to be that 1) Many airlines (including Qantas) have not filed elite variations to standard allowances (the can) and 2) when Upgraded, the baggage allowance appears not to be recalculated.

because of these automated processes, the agents believe they can get away with not knowing the intricacies of IATA 302 - it come up on the ticket, so they adopt a "Computer Says No" mentality.

There is no reissue of etickets done when flights are upgraded from whY to J using points so the eticket coupon is the original one with the whY fare basis code and as such will still reflect the economy allowance which wouldn't be an issue if the airline filed the elite allowances.

If your eticket was already issued in J for the SIN/Aust leg it would have reflected the J allowance.